Cup dispensing mechanism



Feb M, 1960 H. B. sToNER 2,925,196y

CUP DISPENSING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 7, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 1A Feb. 16, 1960 H. B. STONER 2,925,196

CUP DISPENSING MECHANISM Filed Dec. '7, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Qlmll ww WQ H. B. STONER CUP DISPENSING MECHANISM Feb. 16, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. '7, 1955 REED Zar @Harr/Utoner Feb. 16, 1960 H. B. sToNER 2,925,196

CUP DISPENSING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 7, 1955 4 sheets-sheet 4 @Harig Stoner United States Patent O CUP DIsPENslNG MECHANISM Harry B. Stoner, Aurora, Ill., assigner, by mesne assignments, to The Vendo Company, Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application December 7, 1955, Serial No. 551,549 7 Claims. (Cl. 221--222) The invention relates generally to improvements in cup dispensing mechanisms and is particularly concerned with the novel construction, assembly and mode of operation of automatic mechanisms actuable, preferably in conjunction with the operation of a beverage vending machine with which it is associated, to index the cup dispensing mechanism when indicated, and to vend a cup prior to each beverage vending operation.

VA beverage vending machine of the general character disclosed herein is'more fully shown and described in the co-pending application of George C. Bell, Serial No. 461,529, iled October 11, 1954, now Patent No. 2,860,- 817 and assigned to the present assignee. The cup dispensing mechanism includes a turret having columns therein each to contain a stack of cups. The columns are successively positioned in registering alignment with a cup drop mechanism as each column is emptied of its cups. The cup drop mechanism and the mechanism for indexing the turret are coordinated with each other and with the operation of the beverage vending mechanism preferably through inter-connected electrical devices all receiving current from a common source and means is provided in the present assembly to interrupt the flow of electric current to the electrical devices when the supply of cups in the turret is exhausted. The present assembly also includes novel means to properly position the stack of cups in an aligned column in the cup drop mechanism so as to insure that a cup is vended each time the cup drop mechanism is actuated.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a beverage vending machine with novel means to enable actuation of said machine only when there is a supply of cups available for vending.

Another object is to provide a cup drop mechanism with novel actuating means effective to prevent improper positioning of a stack of cups in the cup drop mechanism and consequent jamming.

Another object is to provide a novel linkage that operably connects the cup drop mechanism with its power source.

Another object is to provide a novel cup drop assembly and novel actuating means therefor, which assembly and means is not expensive to construct, is positive in operation, and which will require little or no servicing.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafterfully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages o f the invention.

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of my invention, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment thereof, from an inspection of which, when considered in connectlon with f. lCC

the following description, my invention, its mode of construction, assembly and operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated. Referring to the drawings in which the same characters of reference are employed to indicate corresponding or similar parts throughout the several figures of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the upper portion of a beverage mixing and vending machine embodying the features of the present invention, showing the cabinet within which the mechanism is enclosed in section.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 2 2 of Fig. 1, showing parts of the mechanism in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional View taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 2 but showing the stack of cups depleted and illustrating the parts in positions occupied at the completion of an indexing operation.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view, substantially like Fig. 3, but showing parts thereof in positions occupied when the mechanism is at rest with a stack of cups aligned with the cup drop mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the linkage controlling operation of the cup drop mechanism when said linkage is in the full line position shownrin Fig.\3.

Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 5 showing the said linkage structure in the full line position occupied as illustrated in Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a sectional detail view taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional view of the linkage structure, taken substantially on line 8-8 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional detail view taken substantially on line 9 9 of Fig. 4.

Fig. l0 is a perspective view of one of the cam elements of the cup dro-p mechanism.

The beverage vending machine disclosed in the accompanying drawings and embodying the features of the present invention is enclosed within a cabinet 11 having a horizontal partition l2 dividing said cabinet into an upper compartment 13 and a lower compartment 14. The cabinet includes a movable cover 15 and a front wall 16 which may be in the form of a door movable into open and closed positions so that access may be had to the interior cabinet for repair or servicing.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1 the lower compartment 14 contains a mixing chamber, generally indicated at 17, which includes a beverage discharge spout (not shown) for delivering beverage into a container,` such as one of the cups 18 illustrated, when the latter is positioned to receive said beverage. Located within the upper compartment 13 is a plurality of dry ingredient containers 19. In the present disclosure only two such containers are illustrated although in actual practice three and sometimes four or more such containers are provided. Said containers being adapted to contain sugar, coiiee, dehydrated cream in finely powdered form and perhaps cocoa. The machine includes means for discharging a measured quantity of one or all of the afore-` said ingredients from the respective dry ingredient containers 19 .during machine operation. The discharged ingredient or ingredients flows through vending openings 21 in the respective containers and falls through a'ilanged opening 22 in the horizontal partition 12 into the mixing chamber indicated at 17. During the discharge of dry ingredients into the mixing chamber 17, a measured quantity of hot water is similarly delivered4 into the mixing chamber and said ingredients are thoroughly mixed and the resulting beverage subsequently flows by gravity out of the mixingchamber and is delivered to a positioned cup 18. inasmuch as the ingredient delivery means, the mixing chamber""and the means for conveyiigi dircting'awenddcupl into position to receive a vended beverage constitutes nopart of the present invention, Afurther reference thereto -isnot deemed necessary to'this'disclo'sure.` i The cup dispensing mechanism is also mounted Within the 'upper' compartment 13. V'This mechanism includes ''rf indexing turret generally indicated at 2,3. The turret preferably consists of a plurality of upright columns 24 arranged in a circle, each of which contains a stack of the vcups 1,8. The indexing turret 23 has mounted im,- rn'ediately beneath it a cup drop mechanism 26 best illustrated'in' Fig.` 2 which i's operated in conjunction with operation of the dry ingredient 'and hot water discharge ineansso that each time the machine is conditioned to mix and vend a measured quantity of beverage, one cup is' discharged, throughactuation 'of the cup drop mechanisni26, "and delivered into beverage receiving position.

Referring now to the indexing turret 23 and'i'ts mounting, said turret and the cup'drop mechanism 26 'are cariied iiponl a horizontally disposed tray 27 substantially rectangular in shape. Said tray'has its longitudinal margins turned upwardlyv to' define longitudinal vertical iiangesZ which vconstitute support means for guide rollr'sl29j. fvIp'ht'eY rollers 29` are guided in channels 31 firmly secured toithe' 'top surface of'the horizontal partition 1K2. As a consequence; the cup drop mechanism and tnrretfa'ssembly maybe vwholly or partially withdrawn as aunitfrom vthe cabinet' l1 when the door 16 of said cabinet Yis open.i This greatly facilitates filling of the columns 24Kand further affords ready access to any of the operatinglrnechanis'm carried on the tray 27 and to be described hereinafter.

*The -cup` drop "mechanism Y(best shown in Fig. 9) is seated` directly upon the trayv 27 and it consists of a pair of-"rgidlyl connected spaced apart circular plates 32 and 33? the 'lowermostfplate being spaced above the tray 27 byspacers 34'which have threaded end portions extending through the tray 27 and-fitted with nuts 35 for anhoring the plate'32 in space df relation thereto. Spacer posts 36, suitably spaced c ircumferentially about the plates 32jan'd1 33, hold said'plates rigidly spacedapart and saidv posts 36 have theirjuppe'r ends extendingthrough @circular base plate 3 7 and anchoredv therein as by m1125138. The tray '2 7, each of the plates 32 and 33 and the base plate 37 have axially aligned openings therein through whichl a stackfof cups 18 may be projected.v A plurality of cam elements 39 (Fig. l0) are mounted for free: rotation upon upstanding rigid studs 4l anchored at their lower ends in the circular plate 32. These cam elementsare' uniformlyv spacedqapartV circumferentially about the axial lopening in the plate 32 and each is'provided with a downwardlyinclined surface 42 and a supporting shoulder 43. T he lowermost cup i3 in a stack o'lf'cups has itsl beaded periphery 44 seated normally upon the shoulders 43 of the camv elements 39. Meansis provided in theform of aninrternallytoothed ring meshed. with pinions '45 on said cam elements forfrotating all vofthe cam elements in unison.V Rotation ofthe camelements carries the shoulders 43.7thereof out fromy beneath the bead` periphery 44 of Vthe lowermost cupvv and moves the cam surface 42"A into engagement with upper side of the bead so as to Vforcibly eject the lowermost cup off of the bottom of the stack. At the same time the portionof the cam element 39 carrying the: 'camsurface 42 enters beneath the bead 4d of the next adjacent cup in the stack to hold said cup'against vending. The precise mechanism for actuating the cam elements 39 so as to insure positive vending of a cup eachV time the mechanism is'actuated will be described indeitail hereinafterl Itis sufficient to note at this time `a stack of cups is always in alignment with theV cup y dri'op mechanism and that', as soon as the cups in an Y Vallgned Ystack have been depleted'. to ay predetermined :die turret 2.318 adresser-11.1'. @geeneens by mais 4 to be described presently ,so as to: move the empty column 2:4l out 'of registerwith "the cup drop me'chani's'r'n nd' sition a full colu'mn in alignment therewith.

The turret 23 which includes the upright columns 24 is mounted directly above the cup drop mechanism 26. Upon referring to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the turret is concentric with the base`plate 37 which is firmly mounted on the cup drop mechanism in a manner previously described. A plurality of posts 51 provide additional mounting means for the base plate 37 and these posts also serve yto Vconnect saidV base plate to and maintain it spaced rigidly above the tray 27'of the assembly. Extending upwardly from the base plate 37 are a plurality of rigid spacer posts 52 upon the upper ends of which is firmly secured a cup support plate 53 which is substantially circular in configuration and is cut away as shown in the area which overlies the cup opening in the base plate 37. The support plate 53 preferably is dished circumferentially to insure rigidity thereto and it carries axially therein a bea-ring shaft .'54 which extends upwardly therefrom a considerable dist-ance. This shaft is rigid with respect to the plate 53 and constitutes a mounting for the rotatable turret 23.

The columns 24 in thetu'rret 23 may be fabricated in any conventional manner, vit being preferred that each column be complete in itself and include an inwardly disl posed wall 55,. 'The walls 55 constitute an inner perimeter of the turret 23. A bearing plate 56 bridges the central or axial opening defined by the inner walls 55.

of the turret. As illustrated, only a lower plate 56 is. i

shown, it being understood that a simila-r plate or comparable means is providedY at the upper end of the turret for journaling said turret on a shaft 54. The lower extremity of the turret 23 is surrounded by a rack ring 57; The rack ring or band 57 depends a considerable distance below the bottom ends of the columns and is provided adjacent its lower edge with a plurality of uniformly spaced outwardly projecting partially severed detents 5,5. The striking out of said detents leaves cut-outs or recesses 59 in the area of the band from which said detents are struck. The turret assembly, that is the colf umns 24 and the surrounding band 57, are firmly joined together as bywelding'or by riveting so vas to rotate as a unit about the bearing shaftV S4. For purposes of illustration, the Fig. Zfdi'sclosu're shows affull or substantially full column of cups in register with the cup drop mechanism 26 so as tobe in operable conditionl forl vending a'cup each time the mechanism is actuated.

Cups 1S stored within the Vcolumns 24 are maintained therein bythe supporting plate53 until such time as an individual columnfis moved into alignment with theo-up drop mechanism 26. whereupon Vthealigned stack of cups will drop downwardly until the lowermost cup insaid column has its bead 44 seated'upon the shoulders 43 of the cam elements 39. When al coin or coins is deposited in vcoin controlled mechanism associated-with vending machines of this character,`the mixing of beverage. in gredients is initiated and atthe` same time the cup, drop mechanism 26 is actuated ina manner to be now def scribed so asy to release theflowerrnost cup in the aligned stack which cup drops therefrom and is positioned beneath the discharge o f the mixing chamber '17.

`The means for actuating the cupV drop 26 .arid for indexing the'turret 23 when such indexing is indicated is perhapsbest illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. As'shown in these figures, the base plate 37 has pivotally mounted at its axial center, as by means of a stud 61, a bell-crankA lever generally indicated at' 62. This lever includes lan arm 63 having an upstandingroller 64` mounted. at its freeend. `1'She lever l62 also includes'an arm 65 posi: tioned substantially degrees with respect to. the. arm

63. The arm 65 is offset upwardly, asat 1766, and. itsfree e extremity, 67. preferably extends .substantially at., right` angles to the vmain'portion,offthe arm 65,'ina direction awareness?temprana Teffleaieiid Of, Seid extension 67 has a down-turned lip 68 which normally bears against the cups in the stack seated in the cup drop mechanism. Said lip 68 is held in such engagement by a spring 69 anchored at one end to a pin 71 mounted on a base plate 37 and at its other end to a pin 72 carried by the lever arm 63.

A floating link 73 is mounted planularly on the base plate 37 for mechanical association with the bell-crank lever 62. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the link 73 includes an olset arm 74 provided with an elongated slot 75 through which the roller 64 extends and in which said roller is adapted to operate. The slotted arm 74 terminates in an elongated main body part 76 carrying an indexing roller 77 at one end. The other or free end of the body part 76 has secured thereto one end of a pin 78 that extends downwardly and operates in a slot 79 in the base plate 37. The portion of the pin extending beneath the plate 37 carries thereon a slide plate 80 arranged to slide on the bottom surface of the base plate 37. The forwardly extending portion of the slide plate 80 is suitably slotted longitudinally as at 81 (Fig. 4) to receive freely therethrough a rigid stud 82 mounted in the base plate 37 and depending therefrom. This stud 82 functions, along with pin 78 and slot 79, to guide the slide plate S0 for straight line reciprocal motion when it is actuated through mechanism and by means and for purposes to be described presently.

When the number or" cups in the stack of cups aligned A with the cup drop mechanism are of sucient height to lie in the path of the downturned lip 68 on the end of lever arm 65, the bell-crank lever 62 is held with its roller 64 substantially at rearmost end of its operating or guide slot 75. This specific lever position is substantially as illustrated in Fig. 4 and, when the parts are in the full line position illustrated, the slide plate 80 is in its forward-most position. This full line position is however an intermediate position because when the apparatus is at rest the parts are substantially in the broken line positions illustrated. Upon initial operation of the means for actuating the cup drop mechanism, which includes reciprocation of the slide plate Si), all in a manner to be described presently, said slide plate 80 moves from the at rest position best illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5 forwardly into substantially the intermediate position illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. Such forward movement of the slide plate 8b carries the pin 7S forwardly (to the left as viewed in Fig. 4) substantially the entire length of the slot 79 in the base plate 37 When the slide plate 80 is returned, the lever 73 is moved rearwardly bodily (to the right) and inasmuch as there are cups in suicient number in the stack of cups seated in the cup drop mechanism to hold the bell-crank lever 62 and its roller 64 substantially in the position shown in Fig. 4, the free end of the lever 73 will swing about pin 78 as a pivot. There is no indexing of the turret because the indexing roller 77 is held out of engagement with notches 59 in the turret band 57.

Repeated operation of the mechanism causes repeated actuation of the linkage and roller structure, insofar as it has been described, until such time as the stack of cups within the aligned stack reaches a low level below the plane of the downturned flange or lip 68. When this low level is reached the bell-crank lever 62 will shift counter-clockwise upon initial actuation into substantially the position illustrated in broken lines in Fig. 3. As there illustrated, the spring 69 has acted to rotate the lever 62 in a counter-clockwise direction so as to advance the roller 64 on the lever arm 63 along the operating slot 75 away from the end thereof thus rocking the link 73 in a counter-clockwise direction about its pivot '78 so as to position the indexing roller 77 in engagement with one of the ratchet openings 59 pro-vided in the band `57.

Before continuing with the description of the further operation of the described lever mechanism itshould be emphasized that when the stack of cups falls below the plane of the flange 68 as discussed hereinabove, several cups still remain in the cup drop mechanism 26 so that cups are available during the next few vending operations during which operations the turret is indexed to replenish the supply of cups.

Assuming the cup vending mechanism to be positioned for turret indexing, as illustrated in broken lines in Fig. 3, the cup vending mechanism is actuated as previously described but, in this instance owing to position of the indexing roller 77 resulting from the need for an additional supply of cups the return movement of the slide plate 80 causes the turret to be rotated about its bearing post 54. The amount of rotation imparted to the turret each time the mechanism is actuated .is equal to the spacing between the struck-out detents 58 and, because there are twice as many detents as there are columns of cups, it is necessary for the mechanism to be operated two successive times before the next succeeding column of cups is positioned in alignment with the cup drop mechanism 26. Stated differently, the rst indexing operation will advancethe turret one-tenth of a revolution while the slide member 76 moves from the broken line position shown in Fig. 3 into the full line position shown in said tigure. Upon the second vending operation, while indexing, the cycle is repeated to again advance the turret one-tenth of a revolution. This second advance carries the next succeeding column of cups into alignment with the cup drop mechanism and the cups therein, having passed ott of the end ofthe supporting plate 53, drop downwardly and nest with any cups remaining in the cup drop mechanism. Counter-clockwise rotation of the turret 23 is prevented. at all times by a spring held pawl 83 which is arranged to coact with the indexing openings :'59. When the machine is again operated, the linkage and lever assembly operate to vend a cup, without indexing, in the manner described hereinabove owing to the repositioning of the bell-crank lever 62 resulting from its contact with the replenished supply of cups as shown in full lines in Fig. 4. When all or some of the columns 24 have been emptied, the door 16 of the vending cabinet l1 may be opened and the tray 27 drawn outwardly to expose the open tops of the columns so that a fresh supply of cups may be placed therein.

Sliding movement of the slide plate 80 and the linkage associated therewith, and to be described presently, is accomplished by the provision of a connector link 84 having a ball and socket connection 85 at one end with the slide plate Si). The link 84 is connected at its other end operatively with an electric motor 86 (Figs. 2 and 3) which is firmly mounted on a vertically disposed bracket 37 projecting upwardly from a mounting plate S8 mounted on and extending upwardly from the slideable tray 27. The motor 86 includes a shaft 89 which extends through the bracket 87 and carries firmly, adjacent the other side of the bracket, a cam 91. Referring nowl to Fig. 2, the cam 91 is shown in the position assumed immediately following the start of a cycle of operation. In other words, the motor 86 has been energized and is operating to actuate the beverage mixing and vending mechanism (to be described hereinafter) and to rotate the cam 91 in a clockwise direction and the lowermost cup in the cup drop has already been discharged. When the motor is at rest between :operating cycles, a roller 92 on the upper end of a rocker arm 93 rests against the high land of the cam 91 very close to the drop-oil shoulder 94 so that almost immediately following the beginning of an operating cycle, the roller 92 will drop-off of the high land and assume the position illustrated. As the cam 91 continues its cycle of rotation, said roller 92 is progressively moved outwardly radially until the cycle is completed and it again rests on the high land adjacent to the drop-olf 94.

The rocker arm 93 is offset as at 95 to extend freely through a lateral cutoff 96 in the bracket S17. The lower 7 end yof said arm 93 rmlyvsecured to a pivot 97 which mounts 1t upon the bracket S7. The pivot 97 extends rearwardly of the bracket 87, as viewed in Fig. 3, and it -has securedrmly thereto the upper end of a second arm connection is such that the movement of the slide platey 80, from its start position substantially as illustrated in full lines in Fig. 3 into the position illustrated in Fig. 4 is accomplished very quickly and that barring the presence of additional linkage now to be described the return movement would be relatively slow as determined by the pitch of the carri 91 during its rotation thnough a complete cycle.

Reciprocal movement of the slide plate Sil may or may not cause perceptible reciprocal rotation of the interconnected bell-crank lever 62 depending upon the presence or absence. of cups in an aligned column. At the start of an operating cycle, the bell-crank lever 62 and slide plate SQ are in substantially the full line positions illustrated in Fig. 3V notwithstanding the fact that said figure disclosure is specifically illustrative of the lever position Iattained when the supply of cups in a column is depleted andindexing hasV occurred. The operating description immediately following pertains to the actual vending of a cup during an operating cycle.

As stated hereinbefore when the number of cups in the column aligned with the cup drop mechanism are of sufficient height to align substantially with the downturned lip 68 on the end of the bell-crank lever arm 65, the bell-crank lever 63 is held with its roller 64 substantially at the rearmost (free) end of its, operating or guide s lot 75. This specic lever position is substantially as shown in broken lines in Fig. 4. As soon as the motor driven cam 91 begins its operating cycle, the linkage is advanced almost instantaneously along the guide slot 79 inthe base plate 37 into the position illustrated in full lines in Fig. 4. This movement of the linkage is ineffective for any other purpose than to ioperate the cup drop mechanism 26 and vend a cup. During the remaining operating cycle, the slide plate Sil of the linkage structure travels rearwardly and the link 773A moves through a slight arc swinging clockwise as viewed in Fig. 4 so as to hold its roller 77 Vinwardly of the inside face of the circular band 57. As a result the roller 77 does not become engaged in any of the openings 59 provided with detents 5S and no indexing or clockwise rotation of the turret is effected. There is however a slight rocking in a clockwise direction of the bell-crank lever 62 a distance sufficient to carry the downturned lip 65%' out of compressioncontact with the stack of cups to thereby permit said stack to drop downwardly and replace the lowermost cup which was vended at the beginning of this operation.

Considerable difficulty has been encountered in the use of cup drop mechanisms in seeking to effect the dropping of a. stack of cups into position on the plurality of cam elements 39 following the completion of a cup vending operation. As has been stated hereinabove, after the slide plate Si) has been movedV forwardly in response to the falling off of the roller 92 past the dropoff 94 of cam 91, the slide-plate Sil would move rearwardly slowly following` the pitch of the cam surface on cam 91. rl`his is occasioned primarily because it frequently happens that the cups in the aligned stack are misaligned or the stack becpmes tiltedthrough frictional binding. When that occurs, the lowermost cup of the stack fails to seat itself properly uponall of theshoulders 43 of the carnelements '39: In orderto insureproper-positioning.of theglwerg.

most ycup with its bead 44' seated upon the shoulders 43 of all of the cam elements 39., means is pnovided to cause snap action return of the cam elements 39 into position to ureceive the lowermost cup upon the shoulders 43. This is effected by providing a restraining action during the rearward movement of linkage mechanism, now to be described, lconnecting the slide plate with the cam elements 39. This mechanism is perhaps best illustrated in ligs. 5 through 8 inclusive, to which reference is now ma e.

Spaced below the slide plate Si) or draw bar is a slide element or second draw bar 101 which preferably is fabricated from sheet stock and has a slot 102 (Fig. 8) adjacent its rearmost end through which the connector extends freely'. A stud 193,V anchored at its upper end in the base plate 3,7, depends from said base plate freely through the guide slot S1 in slide plate 80 and also through a slot 104 in the forward end of the slide element 1&1. The, connector S5 andV stud 103 constitute means for mounting the slide element 101 for longitudinal sliding in response to movement of the slide plate 80. A yieldable connection is provided between the slide plate Si? and the wide element- 101 preferably in the form of a `tension spring 105 which is anchored at one end to a pin 196 depending from the rearmost end of the slide plate Si) and at its other end to a pin 107 projecting upwardly from the slide element1tl1.

In the absenceV of any means for restraining movement of the slidey element 101 said element would move rearwardly in unison with the slidevplate Si) when said plate is carried rearwardly through the action of the motor driven eccentric 91.' However, trigger mechanism is providedin the form of a trip latch 108 (Fig. 8) which is rotatably mounted on the stud 103, above the slide element 101 and] is normally tensioned by spring 109y as to hold a depending pin 110 on one end thereof in latching engagement with'a shoulder 111 formed on one longitudinal edge of the slide element 101. The slide plate S0 carries on its forward end a depending stud or abutment 112 in alignment with a roller 113 provided on thel upper surface of the, trip latch103. When the slide element 101 and the slide plate Si) are in the relative positions best illustrated in Fig. 6, the trip latch` 10S its pin 110 engaged with the stop 111, thus preventing rearward movement of the slide element 101 during initial rearward movementof the slide plate 80. However, as soon as the stud 112 moves into Contact with the roller 113, ysaid roller is cammed outwardly radiallyto rotatethe trip latch 163 in a clockwise direction `into substantially the position illustrated in Fig. 8 thus carrying the. stop pin 114B out from behind the stop shoulder 111 whereupon the spring 105, which had been tensioned, functionsV to snap the slideelement 101 rearwardly. The siideelement 101 has, mounted upon its bottomface, an arm 114 which is. pivotally secured at V115 to said slide element and extends forwardly from Vsaid connection and has its forward free end connected at 116 'to an arm 117 proiecting outwardly radially from the ring gear 45.1

.it will be observed from the foregoing that, when the iide plate 80 is slid rearwardly during the movement ofV the roller 92I over the progressively curved surface of cr 'i 91, said plate will move independently of the slide element 16:1 until such time as the pin 112 engages the roller 113 to actuate the triplatch 163 whereupon the spring tension imparted by spring 1il5 will snap the slide element M21 rearwardly, thus imparting instantaneous rE .ation in a clockwise direction ofthe ring gear 45 to idly turnthe cam elements 39 and thereby jar the Y stack of cups 21S superimposed' thereover Vwith suic'ient intensity to insure that said stack drops downwardly to scat the bead-744i of therlowerrnost cup on the cam ele Sholllders.

Repeated operation of the beverage mixing and vend-V insrnahine Caussslspald actuation 0f the Slideplatesin neatnehanlsni tlelslia the @sulla ds:

scribed hereinabove until such time as the stack of cups within the rack aligned with the cup drop mechanism 26 reaches a low level below the plane of lip `68. When this occurs, the bell-crank lever 62 moves into substantially the broken line position illustrated in Fig. 3. As there illustrated, the spring 69 has acted to pull the lever 62 in a counter-clockwise directie-n to project the anged arm 67 well within the perimeter of the cup drop mechanism opening. At the same time, the roller 64 on the lever arm 63 is advanced along its operating slot 75 thus rocking the link 73 counter-clockwise into substantially the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 3, so as to locate the roller 77 thereon in engagement with one of the detent openings 59 in the turret band 57. The mechanism is now positioned so that upon the next successive operations of the motor 86, the turret will be rotated until a stack of cups is again aligned with the cup drop mechanism. At that time the lip 68 will again abut against the stack of cups and will be held substantially in the solid line position illustrated in Fig. 4.

The instant cup vending and indexing mechanism is inclusive of means for preventing its operation as Well as 'operation of the beverage vending apparatus when the rsupply of cups within the turret is exhausted and substantially all of the cups still remaining in the cup drop nmechanism are dispensed. To this end, an arm 118 (Figs. 3 and 4) is mounted upon the axial pivot 61. VThis arm includes a tongue 119 having a downturned flange at 121 (Fig. 9) that normally lies within the opening of the cup drop mechanism through which the cups pass, below the plane of the indexing control lip 68. The downturned ilange 121 is adapted normally to bear against the periphery of the cups within the cup drop, and below the level engaged by the lip 68, through the action of a spring 127 co-nnected at one end to a pin A'128 on the arm 118 and at its other end to a pin 129 mounted on the base plate 37. A lever 126 is pivoted above the lever 118 and is of suilicient length to locate its free end in the path of the stud 72 on lever arm 63. `A spring 122 connects the lever 126 to the lever 118 through studs 123 and 125 so that when said lever arm 63 is moved clockwise, the lever 118 is similarly pulled clockwise to move its ange 121 outwardly radially to relieve pressure on the stack of cups in the cup drop mechanism and permit the cups to move freely therethrough as determined by manipulation of the cup drop cam elements 39.

The tail portion of lever 118, carrying the pin 128 has its free end disposed over an opening 131 in the base plate 37 (Fig. 4) and said end carries a depending pin 132 that coacts with a leaf spring 133 constituting a part of a switch 134 mounted on the underside of the base plate 37. This switch is connected in the electrical circuit to the motor 86 and normally said switch remains closed so that current may flow to said motor for operat- 'i'ng the same when the vending mechanism is conditioned lfor operation. However, after the last cup has been dispensed through the cup dispensing mechanism, the lever 118 moves counter-clockwise carrying the pin 132 `against the leaf spring 133 to cause said spring to exert 'inward pressure upon a switch element 135 in switch 134 for opening said switch and cutting olf the supply `of current to the mo-tor 86.

It has been previously stated that when a cup isreleased from the cup drop mechanism it drops into position to ureceive a beverage that is mixed and vended during operation of the cup drop mechanism. Although the `mixing and dispensing of the beverage constitutes no part of the present invention, it should be noted that the dry ingredients containers 19 are each provided with means to dischargemeasured quantities of their contents during 'an operating cycle of the machine. Accordingly, each Vcontainer vdischarge opening 21 is provided with such means (not shown) for positively discharging Ya measured quantity of the ingredients through the opening 1.21.

Such vending `ineans is operatively actuated electric motors `(not shown) the operation of which is controlled jointly with operation of the motor 86. In this connection, a plurality of switch actuating cams, generally indicated at 136, are mounted upon a shaft 137 operatively connected through a universal joint 133 with the motor shaft 89. These cam elements function to open and close the respective switches 139 associated one with each cam 136 for opening and closing the circuits for operating the motors for the dry ingredient discharge means. This interconnection of the control means insures precise timing of the various operations and also eliminates the need for separate motors to actuate the circuit control cams and the cup drop-indexing mechanisms.

It is believed that my invention, its mode of construction and assembly, and many of its advantages should be readily understood from the foregoing without further description, and it should also be manifest that while a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described for illustrative purposes,` the structural details are nevertheless capable of wide variation within the purview of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

What yI claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In an apparatus for dispensing paper cups or the like from a stack, a cup drop mechanism including rotatable -cam members arranged at spaced points around the perimeter of the lower portion of the stack, each cam member having means for supporting the stack and for separating the lowermost cup therefrom, pinions carried by the cam members, a ring gear meshed with said `pinions operable to rotate said cam members simultaneously in `either direction, a drop-off eccentric, means rto operate said eccentric, a link structure operatively connecting said ring gear and eccentric, said eccentric being adapted to cause the cam members to rotate in one ndirection to separate the lowermost cup from the stack and to then rotate in the opposite direction to seat the next succeeding cup in the stack on the cam members, said linkage including a pair of draw bars slidable one relative to the other, means to hold one of said bars against sliding movement when the linkage is operated initially in a direction to cause the cam members to rotate in said other direction and means to release `said holding means just prior to the slide linkage reaching its maximum stroke in said one direction to limpart instantaneous rotation to said cam members.

2. In an apparatus for dispensing paper cups or the like from a stack, a cup drop mechanism including rotatable cam members arranged at spaced points around the perimeter of the lower portion of the stack, each cam member having means for supporting the stack and `for separating the lowermost cup therefrom, pinions carried `by the cam members, a ring gear meshed with said pinions operable to rotate said cam members simultaneously in either direction, a drop-off eccentric, means to operate said eccentric, a link structure operatively connecting said ring gear and eccentric, said eccentric being adapted to cause the cam members to rotate in one direction lto separate the lowermost cup from the stack and to then rotate in the opposite direction to seat the next succeeding cup in the stack on the .cam members, -said'linkage including triggered mechanism actuable when the linkage is operated to rotate the cam members in said other direction to impart instantaneous rotation to said :cam members.

3. In an automatic beverage vending machine having `cyclically movable operating means, electric motor means for moving said operating means through a complete `cycle of movement during each vending operation of the machine, and a .cup dispensing mechanism comprising a plurality .of rotatable supporting members each having apair of :cup-ange engaging means, a iirst of said cup- VAilange Lengaging .means -of each supporting member enr Y gaging'the flange of the lowermost cupV of a vertically aligned stack of nested cups so as to support the stack when said supporting members are in a first position and being disengaged from said lowermost cup tiange in response to angular displacement of said supporting members to a second position, the second of said cupiiange engaging means of each supporting member being disengaged from said cups when the supporting members are in said first position and said second cup-flange engaging means pressing downwardly on said flange of said lowermost cup and engaging the ange of the next lowermost cup so as to dispense the lowermost cup and support the stack in response to said angular displacement of said supporting members to said second position, said second cup -flange engaging means being disengaged from said iiange of said next lowermost cup in response to return angular displacement of said supporting members back towardV said first position so as to drop said Vstack upon said iirst cup iiange engaging means when said supporting members have returned to said first position, and means for pivoting said supporting members from said first position to said second position in response to movement of said operating means through an initial portion of the cycle of movement thereof, the improvement comprising spring means, means for storing energy in said spring means in response to movement of said operating means through an intermediate portion of the cycle of movement thereof, and for maintaining said supporting members substantially stationary in said second position thereof during said movement through vsaid-intermediate portion, means responsive to movement of said operating means during the ,nal portion of the operating cycle thereof to release the'stored energy of said spring means, and means responsive to the release of said stored energy to impart to said sup-- porting members a substantially instantaneous return angular displacement from said second position back to said first position thereof, whereby during said return angular displacement the cup stack will be maintained substantially vertical by its own inertia and thereby to eliminate any tendency of the stack to tilt due to disengagement of one or several of said second cup-tiange engaging means from said flange of said next-lowermost cup before disengagement of the other of said second cup-flange engaging means.

4. In an automatic beverage vending machine having cyclically movable operating means, electric motor means for moving said operating means through a complete cycle of movement during each vending operation of the machine, a cup dispensing mechanism comprising a plurality of cup supporting members each mounted for movement between a first position and a second position, and means forrpivoting said supporting members from said first position to said second position in response to movement of said operating means through an initial portion of the cycle of movement thereof, said cup supporting members each having a iirst means for supporting the lowermost cup of a vertically aligned stack of nested cups when said supporting members are in said first position and a second means for dispensing said lowermost cup from said stack in response to movement of said members toward said second position and for engaging the next lowermost cuppin response to said movement toward said second position so as to support said stack during said movement toward said second position and while said supporting members are in said second position, said second means being disengaged in response to return movement of said supporting members back to said iirst position so as to drop said stack upon said iirst means when said supporting members have returned to said first position, the improvement comprising spring means, means for storing energy in said-'spring means Yin response to movement of said oper- 'ating means through an intermediate portion of the cycle oflmovement thereof and formaintaining said supportving members substantially stationary in vsaid 'second position during said movement through said intermediate portion, means responsive to movement of said operating means during the final portion of the operating cycle thereof to release the stored energy of said spring means, and means responsive to the release of said stored energy to impart to-said supporting members a substantially instantaneous return movement from said second position back to said first position thereof.

5. In an automatic beverage vending machine having cyclically movable operating means, electric motor means for moving said operating means through a complete cycle of movement during e-aeh vending operation of the machine, a cup dispensing mechanism comprising a plurality of rotatable supporting members each having a pair of cup-flange engaging means, a first of said cupange engaging means of each supporting member engaging Vthe iiange of the lowermost cup of a vertically aligned stack of nested cups so as to support the stack when said supporting members are in a first position and being disengaged from said lowermost cup flange in response to angular displacement of said supporting members to a second position, the second of said cupange engaging means of each supporting member being disengaged from said cups when the supporting members are in said first position and said second cup-ange engaging means pressing downwardly on said flange of said lowermost cup and engaging the ange of the nextlowermost cup so as to dispense the lowermost cup and support the stack in response to Said angular displacement of said supporting members to said second position, said second cup-iiange engaging means being disengaged from said flange of said-next lowermost cup in response to return angular displacement of said supporting members back toward said first position so as to drop said stack upon said first cup-ange engaging means when said supporting members have returned to said rst position, an actuating element cyclically movable in opposite directions, and means connecting said actuating element and said supporting members for angular displacement of the latter from said iirst position to said second position thereof in response to movement of said actuating element in one direction and for substantially instantaneous return angular displacement of said supporting members from said second position back to said first position in response to substantially instantaneous movement of said actuating element in the opposite direction, the improvement comprising means for moving said actuating element in said one direction in response to movement of said operating means through an initial portion of the cycle of movement thereof, locking means operative to restrain said actuating element against movement in said opposite direction during movement of said operating means through an intermediate portion of said cycle of movement thereof, spring means, means connecting said spring means to said actuating element and to said operating means for deiiecting said spring means and storing energy therein in response to movement of said operating means through said intermediate portion of said cycle of movement thereof, and means responsive to movement o-f said operating means during the iinal portion of said operating cycle thereof to render said locking means inoperative and to permit said deflected spring means to move said actuating element in said opposite direction substantially instantaneously.

6. A machine as recited in claim 5 wherein said locking means comprises a latch mounted for pivotal movement between an operative position in locking engagement with said actuating element during said intermediate portion of said operative cycle of said operating means and an inoperative position disengaged from said actuating element, spring means urging said locking means toward said operative position, said means for rendering said locking means inoperative comprising means for pivotingv said latch to Vsaid inoperative position during said 13 nal portion of said operating cycle of said operating means.

7. A machine as recited in claim 5 wherein said operating means comprises pin means mounted for reciprocai movement a predetermined distance in one direction during said initial portion of said operating cycle of said operating means and in the opposite direction during the remainder of said operating cycle of said operating means, Said actuating element comprising slot means having a length at least equal to said predetermined distance and encompassing said pin means during said movement thereof, said pin means engaging an edge of said slot means during movement of said pin means in its said one direction for moving said actuating element in its said one direction.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Barnes Feb. 26, 1907 `Flatau Mar. 31, 1914 De Fir Mar. 13, 1918 Nias July 16, 1918 Bowman Jan. 8, 1924 Anderson et al Mar. 15, 1927 Reifsnyder Feb. 26, 1929 Benson May 9, 1933 Barbieri Apr. 21, 1936 Bereck NOV. 12, 1940 Miller July 8, 1941 Reifsnydei Dec. 30, 1941 Von Stoeser Sept. 17, 1946 Waite et a1. Feb. 20, 1951 Gould et al. Dec. 6, 1955 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION Patent No. 2,925,196 February 16, 1960 Harry B. Stoner It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read* as corrected below.

Column. 6, line 75XI after "lateral" for "cutoff" read cutout Signed and sealed this 13th day of September 1960.

(SEAL) Attest:

KARL H. AXLINE ROBERT C. WATSN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

